The Recall Desk
HighFDA (Devices)·Z-2301-2019·Announced 2019-08-28

BD Vacutainer Tubes Recalled for False Carboxyhemoglobin Results

Becton Dickinson is recalling specific blood collection tubes because they may cause falsely elevated carboxyhemoglobin results when used with the IL GEM 4000 instrument.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall is classified as FDA Class II, and the hazard involves a risk of harm (inaccurate diagnostic results) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the 'High' severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Becton Dickinson & Company is recalling BD Vacutainer PST Gel and Lithium HeparinN (LH) 56 Units Blood Collection Tubes, Catalog Number 367960. The recall involves 1,436,228,004 units that were distributed worldwide, including nationwide in the United States.

The recall is being issued because false elevation of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) results have been reported when venous blood gas samples collected with these tubes are analyzed using the IL GEM 4000 instrument. This issue may lead to inaccurate diagnostic readings for patients.

Healthcare facilities and laboratories should stop using the affected tubes and contact Becton Dickinson for further instructions. Consumers are not directly affected by this recall, as the product is intended for professional medical use.

The recalled product

Product
BD Vacutainer PST Gel and Lithium HeparinN (LH) 56 Units Blood Collection Tubes, Catalog Number 367960
Affected units
1,436,228,004

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Lot numbers (1)

  • UDI: (01)30382903679608

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Part of a larger recall action

This product is one of 15 recalled by Becton Dickinson & Company under a single FDA (Devices) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.

See all 15 products in this recall →